Wednesday Presser Notes 10-28

Boubacar violated team rules, and Rich Rodriguez simply enforced Boubacar's decisions by removing him from the team. Players know that's it's a privilege to play on the team, not a right.

It wasn't explicitly asked, but Rodriguez's tone made it seem at times as though the window was still open for Cissoko to be reinstated. However, he said that they would help him try to get his career back on track at another institution, with no mention of a potential return. Further inquiries received the "let's talk about guys who play for Michigan" response.

Despite losing Cissoko, Justin Turner is still on track to redshirt this year, and he's practicing exclusively at cornerback. Troy Woolfolk will stay at corner full-time, and James Rogers has moved to the position (which we knew a few weeks ago). JT Floyd is starting to get healthy again.

Defensive back is still an area of concern for the team, but at this point, it will have to be addressed through recruiting.

Injuries

Brandon Minor practiced very little yesterday. That is related to the ongoing ankle sprain, not the bruised heel from Saturday's game.

Odoms didn't practice yesterday, but he responded well to treatment, and is expected to practice today.

Junior Hemingway practiced full contact yesterday.

Tate mentioned that his shoulder was a little sore following the PSU game. However, he's fully healthy and will practice this whole week.

Etc.

It's better to have 2-3 backs that can carry the load than having to rely on one guy and being in trouble if he goes down. Minor's injury is part of the reason there has been so much rotation at RB.

Greg Mathews had his best game against Penn State, and has been playing well overall lately. He's usually a quiet guy, but has been a more vocal leader in practice this week. RR speculates that may be due to seeing his career coming to an end.

Carlos Brown was put at kick return to have two explosive options, and prevent teams from being able to just kick away from Stonum. He will stay on kick return.

Odoms was removed from punt return only because of injury. When healthy, he will probably go back there.

Despite having two different styles of QB, Illinois won't change their schemes too much on Saturday. They'll still have a spread offense, but probably run a little more with Juice, because he has a lot of running ability.

The team's focus has been good all season. Even when they don't play well in games, it isn't due to a lack of focus or preparation.

Kevin Leach and JB Fitzgerald got a little more playing time at linebacker on Saturday than they had been. That will probably continue.

I am fed up with the Angry Michigan Running Back Hating God's laser-like focus on Brandon Minor's ankle. What sort of small animal can I sacrifice to effect a target change to Minor's earlobe or duodenum or something?

is not the Woodson or even Marlin Jackson type we hoped he may be. I'm NOT saying in any way he's a disappointment or that he won't be a good player for us-- there's no reason to think he won't be. But when we are literally desperate for corners yet he hasn't stood out enough to the coaches to earn some time, even for a freshman that's a pretty clear signal that he's not yet the "special" type.

"Before I could pull the trigger, I was hit by lightning, and bitten by a cobra."

What worries me about his redshirting is the possibility that the coaches may think he's not good enough to be drafted after his fourth year -- that they think he may still be around for a fifth year. From their first few practices, it was clear that Woodson/Law/Jackson/Hall/Peterson (fr) were big time NFL'ers who would not be around in five years.

I think it's ridiculous to think he won't be a special player because the coaches - completely different from the coaching staff that had Woodson and Jackson - want to redshirt him. Boubacar played as a freshman and that didn't work out as well as people had hoped. I trust the coaches on this, and don't think it means Turner won't be special.

1- if they impress the coaches enough and stand out enough that they beat out guys that have a natural advantage over them, and 2- if injuries and talent leave the coaches no choice but to play them. So Turner has not impressed enough with his play to be given the shot. And he hasn't impressed enough that even with no talent at corner, and no depth either, he's not good enough--yet-- to beat out JT Floyd, Teric Jones (true freshman receiver) and James Rogers (receiver).

I trust the coaches too. And their decision says that right now Turner is not good enough to play, despite have almost no talent in front of him and no depth. IMO you are kidding yourself. Special players play as freshman, especially when there is not better alternative in front of them.

"Before I could pull the trigger, I was hit by lightning, and bitten by a cobra."

i wont say he will never be a special player because he didnt play as a true freshmen, however, i think it is somewhat telling that he couldnt crack the lineup with this weak, injury depleted secondary.

It says that Tate is close to 100%, but I heard one of the announcers say during the PSU game that brother Jason says that the injury is hurting Tate more than he is letting on, and he won't fully recover until he can rest it during the offseason.

So, does any one have any info? Was what the announcers said not true? Or is Tate continuing to act like it isn't bothering him? Oh, please let it be that the announcers were wrong! (Wouldn't be the first time Millen has been wrong about somehting.)

Jason said this a few weeks ago. Sorry, don't remember exactly when, but it was in the Daily too. I was at the game, so I didn't hear what Millen said for sure, but, I think that that was all from a few weeks ago.

I can't say for sure because I have not examined him obviously, but as an MD I can say that if they were honest about what the injury was than it shouldn't be affecting his play very much at this point unless he has aggravated it (which is possible).

Having a younger brother myself, I can also say that it could simply be an older brother coming to the aid of his younger brother. Now that we have started to lose games and people have stopped talking about Tate as if he can do no wrong, his brother may have said that to try and get people off his back. This is simply speculation based on my relationship with my own brother though. I would come to his defense if people were down on him too.